The Corwin Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. It was passed by the Congress on March 2, 1861 and sent to the state legislatures for ratification. Senator William H. Seward of New York introduced the amendment in the Senate. Representative Thomas Corwin of Ohio introduced it in the House of Representatives. It was one of several bills considered by Congress in an unsuccessful attempt to attract the seceding states back into the Union and to convince border slave states to stay. Technically still pending before the states, it would, if ratified, shield "domestic institutions" of the states (which in 1861 included slavery) from the constitutional amendment process and from interference by Congress.
Corwin Amendment
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the Corwin Amendment?
A: The Corwin Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that was passed by Congress on March 2, 1861 and sent to the state legislatures for ratification.
Q: Who introduced it in the Senate?
A: Senator William H. Seward of New York introduced the amendment in the Senate.
Q: Who introduced it in the House of Representatives?
A: Representative Thomas Corwin of Ohio introduced it in the House of Representatives.
Q: What was its purpose?
A: Its purpose was to attract seceding states back into the Union and to convince border slave states to stay.
Q: How would it be ratified?
A: It would be ratified by state legislatures if approved by them.
Q: What would it protect if ratified?
A: If ratified, it would shield "domestic institutions" of each state (which included slavery at that time) from constitutional amendment process and from interference by Congress.
Q: Is this amendment still pending before any states today?
A: Yes, technically this amendment is still pending before any states today.